Pages

Milk might not be as good for us as we thought

Drinking milk may not protect our bones from fractures - and could even increase a person’s risk of dying from heart disease, according to a major new study in Sweden.In surprising results, an investigation into dietary habits of more than 100,000 people found those who drank more milk were no less likely to break a bone. Among women, higher milk consumption was actually linked to an increased risk of hip fractures.

Even more strikingly, people who drank more than three glasses of milk – around 680ml – per day, were more likely to die over the course of the study, which tracked 60,000 women for 20 years, and 45,000 men for 11 years.

The effect was most pronounced among women, who were nearly twice as likely to die, with heart disease the condition with the strongest links to higher milk consumption.

Although potentially alarming, the authors of the study from Uppsala University urged caution and said their evidence was not strong enough for dietary recommendations to change.